Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Wednesday the filing of multiple criminal charges against former Farmington Police Ofc. Zachary Christensen for multiple counts of battery and one count of felony child abuse.

These criminal charges stem from an incident occurring Aug. 27, 2019, in which then Ofc. Christensen allegedly battered and abused an 11-year-old girl at Mesa View Middle School.

“We must uphold the law and ensure that New Mexico’s school children are protected, particularly those who are most vulnerable,” Balderas said. “I will hold any individual accountable when they harm a child.”

Christensen can be seen on his own body-worn video interacting with the young female student before finally engaging the young girl in a physical altercation in front of school administrators, who are heard verbally disapproving of the encounter.

Christensen is no longer employed by the Farmington Police Department.

A preliminary hearing on this matter will be scheduled within 60 days of Christensen’s initial appearance in Magistrate Court.